Britain is to send teams of spies and diplomats into Libya to help oust Colonel Gaddafi, it emerged last night.

MI6 operatives backed by the SAS are to land in the east around the key rebel stronghold of Benghazi ‘within days’.

In addition, 600 soldiers of the Black Watch are on 24-hour standby to fly in and avert a humanitarian catastrophe as Libya erupted into a new wave of bloodshed.

Witnesses said 50 people were killed and 300 wounded in clashes at Zawiyah, 30 miles west of the capital Tripoli.

Victims included two rebel commanders. Last night another 17 died in a blast at an ammunition depot near Benghazi.

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Around 200 of the 600 UK troops are ready to deploy at South Cerney forward barracks near RAF Lyneham, Britain’s main military air transport base.